Vehicle-mounted footwear cleaning device

Abstract

A footwear cleaning device for attachment to a vehicle having a passenger compartment and a frame running lengthwise under said passenger compartment, the cleaning device comprising a base for mounting to the frame; an arm having a proximate end and a distal end, the arm being pivotally or slideably operatively attached to the base at the proximate end; a cleaner connected to the distal end of the arm; and an actuator having a moving end attached to the arm, the actuator having an unactuated state and an actuated state, when in the unactuated state, the cleaner is a first distance from the base, when in the actuated state, the cleaner is a second distance from the base, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A footwear cleaning device for attachment to a vehicle having a passenger compartment and a frame running lengthwise under said passenger compartment, said cleaning device comprising:
 a base for mounting to said frame;   an arm having a proximate end and a distal end, said arm being pivotally or slideably operatively attached to said base at said proximate end;   a cleaner connected to said distal end of said arm; and   an actuator having a moving end attached to said arm, said actuator having an unactuated state and an actuated state, when in said unactuated state, said cleaner is a first distance from said base, when in said actuated state, said cleaner is a second distance from said base, wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein said second distance is sufficient such that said cleaner extends beyond said passenger compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle comprises a side-view mirror extending from said vehicle, and wherein said cleaner does not extend beyond said side-view mirror. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein, said proximate end is pivotally connected to said base, such that, when in said unactuated state, said arm is essentially parallel to said base, and, in said actuated state, said arm is angled with respect to said base. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein said actuator is at least one of manual, electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear cleaning device of  claim 5 , wherein said actuator is electric. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear cleaning device of  claim 1 , further comprising said vehicle and wherein said base is attached to said frame. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear cleaning device of  claim 7 , wherein said actuator is interlocked with a door-open reply of said vehicle such that, when said door is opened, said actuator is actuated to position said arm in said actuated state. 
     
     
         9 . The footwear cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein said base is symmetrical along its length such that it is adapted to be attached to either the left or right side of the vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The footwear cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein said cleaner is releasibly engaged with said distal end. 
     
     
         11 . The footwear cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein said proximate end comprises an adjustable joint to adjust the vertical angle of said arm to said base. 
     
     
         12 . The footwear cleaning device of  claim 11 , wherein said adjustable joint is a ball joint. 
     
     
         13 . The footwear cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein said cleaner is at least one of a brush, scrapper, sponge, or cloth. 
     
     
         14 . A method of using a footwear cleaning device attached to a vehicle having a passenger compartment and a frame running lengthwise under said passenger compartment, said method comprising:
 inserting a first foot having footwear into a cleaner extending from under said passenger compartment;   cleaning said footwear on said first foot;   putting said first foot into the passenger compartment directly without putting it on the ground;   inserting a second foot having footwear into said cleaner;   cleaning said footwear on said second foot; and   putting said second foot into the passenger compartment directly without putting it on the ground.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 before putting said first foot into said cleaner, opening a door of said vehicle, thereby actuating said device to extend said cleaner beyond said passenger compartment, and   after putting said second foot in said passenger compartment, closing said door to retract said cleaner under said passenger compartment.